There Once Was A Crooked Man... God Love Him.

[pstlpkr]

I met a WWII Veteran Monday during a trip to the grocery.

I talked to him for a few minutes and helped him get some stuff he couldn't reach.

He had to be in his high 80’s, (I figure 86 or 87) and armed to the teeth with his quad cane, all of 4 foot 6.

He had been a foot soldier in Patton’s 3rd Army and had made that hundred mile march in December of 1944 when they liberated Bastogne on December 26th of that year.

“Those poor bastards looked like frozen rats.”

Must have been hell.

He also said that "Patton really was a hard-assed son of a bitch, but he knew how to kick some ass."

The old Veteran really was a crotchety old man. God love him.

I hope to be one someday.

I was really surprised when my oldest daughter thanked him before I had the opportunity.

He was really moved. Crystal is twenty.

 

[oldmaus]

@Lawrence

You have taught her well, I am sure by example if nothing else.

That's something to be proud of. :clap:

 

[pstlpkr]

Thank you Jim.

 

[ace57]

:worship: :clap:

 

[portascat]

Told me (16 year old) son to ALWAYS give the old timers a healthy dose of respect. Told him that slow moving old man up there might have run up the beach at Normandy, busted tanks in a P-47, made 12 hour flights over Europe, or flamed Japanese out of caves. He might deserve his chance to take his time doing something

 

[unclearthur]

Very cool! Great daughter too!

 

[ace57]

God bless the old VETS :worship:

 

[pstlpkr]

http://media.causes.com/1060527?p_id=175378540

 

[pstlpkr]

http://media.causes.com/1060527?p_id=175378540

 

[unclearthur]

Pop didn't get to see the memorial. Makes me kinda sad.

 

[fullbent]

Around here,we say "It shows she had sum raising"...Good job Lawrence

 

[baronsamedi]

I got to thank a Veteran of WWII and Korea over the phone one day. It was very hard to say it without choking up. Those dudes are few and far between now.

 

[pstlpkr]

Thank you guys for the kind words.

Baron:

I agree. It's tough.

 

[ace57]

My Dad was a WWII Vet, He past away in 1994, He was in the Army a D-Day vet. :worship:

 

[baronsamedi]

Maybe if enough of us can remember why men like your old man matter, then this country won't turn out so bad, after all! ::

 

[ace57]

Yes what You said Baronsamedi. :clap:

 

[sjpipesmoker]

There are a few WW2 vets at my work place, but one gentleman was a Field Medic in the pacific campaign, He told me his favorite story of how he found a Jap (he don't use the word Japanese) bugle on the field, and one time he blew it, and some "japs" came out from hiding, and his platoon blew them away. He signed up when he was 16, at 17 he was on the battlefield witn no training whatsoever trying to save his fellow soliders that were dying or hurt. He's confined to a wheelchair and can't walk, he plays the harmanocia and in his room in a box, sits the japanese bugle he found. I have much respect for all soliders and person of our military, but vets from WW2 get a bit more respect form me, I've read many books on the Pacific campain, WW2 history, Vietnam history and the current wars...

 

[locopony]

Stories like that help me to believe there is hope for the youths today.

 

[dawk]

I am lucky enough to have two Korean vets as neighbors, one on each side of me. One was in a tank and the other one in the infantry. The stories these guys have are amazing and they put things in perspective in this crazy world. I have two sons who hang on their every word, my boys always make it a point to shovel the snow off their drive ways and sidewalks out of respect for them-not a Holiday goes by that myself and my boys don't walk over to each one and say thanks for what they did for us. Lawrence- Thanks for sharing the story.

 

[baronsamedi]

Well, loco, many of our utes are wearing the uniform now and fighting in the longest American war ever waged. My hope is in them.